Raising the Bar

Conversations about change are often very brief. Perhaps you have experienced one yourself. Change? No thanks I’m good. And so it goes. Expanding the conversation usually requires an imaginative and engaging sports metaphor. This idea is a home run and getting the VP to support the project will be a slam-dunk. Wow, sign ME up. Yes, these are sample clichés. The focus of this article embraces a less abused metaphor, raising the bar. It represents the commitment to aspire to more substantial goals. I employ this phrase to illustrate a meaningful shift from the present calls for sustainability to the expanding renewability movement, the true game-changing shift.

Let’s first characterize a shift. To me, a shift involves movement toward something related in purpose yet understood to be more effective in some substantial way. Shifting transforms the essential nature of something, usually entailing mindsets, processes, and/or behaviors. In my view a shift may integrate accepted perspectives with yet-to-be accepted ones or lead to new strategies that replace conventional wisdom. In either case, shifting is most successful emerging from an holistic, or systems perspective.

Let’s consider the shift from sustainability to renewability. Is your relationship sustainable? Is your job sustainable? If so, is this sufficient to be fulfilling? I would guess not. Renewability relates to creativity, joy, and fulfillment. It applies to individuals (spirit, mind, and body), organizations (purpose, people, and place), and societies (community, ecology, and economy). As a shift, renewal considers all scales in an integrated perspective supporting progress.

In his book, Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough promotes shifting to the idea that we must follow nature’s cycles (biomimicry). A wonderful case in point is that we need to shift our perceptions about waste from icky stuff you “throw away” to food that nourishes another process. Yes, Waste = Food. Be it organic waste (e.g., food scraps, old wood) or technological waste (e.g., old circuit boards, used carpet), products and processes must be designed holistically to ensure that products of one process eventually become nutrients feeding another process, thereby creating renewable cycles.

A good illustration involves the dual challenge of health and resource risks connected with continued petroleum use. This is a huge topic, so let’s briefly consider a particular health issue. Many petroleum-based products such as containers and tableware – you know the ones – have been shown to leech toxic chemicals under various conditions. However, the benefits of such lightweight, portable, and reusable forms have become associated with modern convenience and quality living.

A seemingly simple solution might be to change to more conventional materials e.g., glass bottles, but we lose some of the benefits that we have come to value. And what do we do with the billions of plastic containers? A shift that recognizes the benefits may blend several notions. Is there a non-toxic, perhaps organic substance that can replace the petroleum in containers and similar products? The answer is yes. Several crop materials are being used successfully to produce biodegradable and compostable containers, meal ware, etc. Corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, soybeans, and tapioca are some examples. Products made from leaves are also available. Bagasse, or sugarcane pulp, is a by-product from sugar mills.

Sounds easy enough, but let’s expand our response-ability and consider the holistic approach. Bring on the questions! Which crops make for healthy nutrition? Where do these various crops grow well, naturally, and in balance with nature, while requiring minimal resources? Do they have appropriate by-products for use in containers and such? Can these products be produced in many localities to minimize transport and degradation, while enhancing community economies and life quality? Can production, or reproduction, be accomplished without wasting resources or producing toxins? What are the product life cycles? How can the used containers become integrated into another process, e.g., mulch to nourish and protect new crops? Do crops need to be rotated to sustain proper soil health? How can the old petroleum-based products be identified, collected, reused, or perhaps broken down in such a way to eliminate toxic releases and minimize embodied energy. Clearly a lot of forethought and design are beneficial as we recognize how shifting embodies long term renewable rewards.

Raising the bar requires both a paradigm shift and a metaphor shift. Once we shift our consciousness we can create more benefit and value, as described in the illustration above. Shifting the metaphor is the game-changing motivator. Raising the metaphorical high jump bar is associated with increasing difficulty, which corresponds to increases in fear and perceived risk. However, raising the metaphorical limbo bar increases ease, thereby reducing fear and perceived risk. I suggest that this shift is powerful because the goal is identical – getting to the other side.

Shifting inspires substantial improvement in quality of living for all. Shifting the ways we view and do raises the scale of improvement necessary to shift our world. While sustainability steps us in the right direction – and I applaud all efforts – mere steps are insufficient and frankly below our present capabilities as individuals, organizations, and societies.

The Renewable Culture Shift in progress does more than eliminate the need for baby steps. It encourages us to recognize that fearing a fall makes us timid and constrains us. Embracing flight, however, enthusiastically frees us to exceed our own expectations of what is possible.